Engaged: Charlie & Stephanie

I had a great time with Charlie & Stephanie at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. We had an absolutely gorgeous day that was preceded by several days of rain, so everything in the Gardens was lush, green, and beautiful! Since meeting Stephanie at our consultation back in the fall for her and Charlie's upcoming wedding, I've run into her three times out in public! It's always quick and in passing, so it was fun to actually have a couple hours together during this session to chat and get to know each other better. She's a beautiful girl with an infectious laugh and wonderful personality. It was fun getting to know Charlie, too. Most guys don't exactly LOVE to get their picture taken, but he was a champ and went along with everything Stephanie and I threw at him...and did really well! Thanks, Charlie & Stephanie, for having me capture these special moments for you. I can hardly wait for your wedding in September. It will be here before we know it!

Note to blog readers: These two are high school sweethearts and have been together for 12 years! Amazing, isn't it?

Family Session: Tom, Kirsten & Girls

Kirsten is my first cousin, and sadly, we don't get to see each other very often. She and Tom live in the lovely New England area with their beautiful twin daughters, Uma & Sylvie. When they announced plans to come to Ohio for a visit this spring, I was excited at the thought of seeing them and also, photographing their sweet little family!

Uma and Sylvie were born in January 2006 and things seemed to be going smoothly until the girls turned one-year old. Tom & Kirsten noticed that Uma was hitting all the big milestones as expected, but Sylvie was actually losing some of the skills she'd acquired in the first year of her life. For the next year, they endured a long road of testing on Sylvie to figure out what was going on. By January 2008, Sylvie was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease. Tom & Kirsten were told that most babies who have this disease don't live past age 2.

Sylvie is now 3/1/2 and although each new day is a challenge, she brings so much happiness and joy to the family. Tom & Kirsten are stellar parents who love both of their daughters immensely. It's apparent how much love they have for their girls, and I can't think of two better people to care for and love on little Sylvie. Please say a prayer for Sylvie and the rest of the family whenever she crosses your mind.

And now...onto the photos!

Newborn Session: Jackson

Jackson is the beautiful son of our (my and Tim's) good friends, Ashley and Mike. I was blessed enough to be at the hospital when Ashley delivered, and although I couldn't be in the room during her c-section, I was lucky enough to capture some amazing moments for the family after Jack finally arrived! Click HERE for the hospital slideshow.

The following photos were taken when Jack was 11 days old. Newborns are usually pretty challenging for me to photograph, but I love babies, no matter their mood, so I continue to photograph newborns. :) Jack was the easiest newborn I've had yet! He slept almost the whole time, which is rare. Thanks, Jack! I owe you one. :) Ashley and Mike, thank you for the opportunity to capture these moments for you. Tim and I love you and are so excited to continue our friendship as you start your new journey as parents.



















For the full music/photo slideshow of Jack's 11-day-old session, click HERE.

May Wedding: Tony & Carey

Tony & Carey's wedding was undoubtedly a memorable experience for all who were able to attend! I don't know if I've ever been to a wedding that reflected who the bride and groom really were as people, as much as this one did. Their signature was all over everything throughout the day, and you could tell they were enjoying themselves immensely, as were the guests! Thanks, Tony & Carey, for allowing us to be there to capture your special memories for you. We're truly honored! Enjoy your preview, and be looking out for more photos to come! :)







Seeing each other for the first time all day...